The organisers of the Delhi International Film Festival (December 20-27) have decided to turn a blind eye to Subhash Ghai’s failing directorial career that includes recent dudKaanchiand instead focus on his glory days by conferring upon him a lifetime achievement award. Ghai’s best includes Kalicharan, Vishwanath, Gautam Govinda, Krodhi, Karz, Vidhata, Hero, Meri Jung, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Saudagar, Khal Nayak, Pardes and Taal. The rot set in with Yaadein and continued with Kisna, Black & White, Yuvraaj and now Kaanchi. Perhaps the award should an indication to Ghai that since prestigious institutions are now recognising his past achievements, it is now time to hang up his boots.

Veteran filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan is the Chaiman of the Festival’s advisory board that also includes Anurag Kashyap and Tigmanshu Dhulia. This year, the festival’s partner country is Pakistan and the Minar-e-Dilli Award will be presented to ghazal supremo Ghulam Ali.

Speaking of Pakistan, Zee’s new channel Zindagithat goes on air from June 23 will feature a plethora of content from our neighbours, including hit television shows and Pakistani feature films. The channel will also commission telefilms from filmmakers on both sides of the border. Plans are also in the offing for shows from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Latin America and Iran, where Zindagi will buy the rights for hit shows and recreate them for an Indian audience. Pakistani content will be aired as is, because large swathes of North India, the channel’s primary market, already understand Urdu and Punjabi.

It will be like the halcyon days of yore when India used to be in thrall to bootlegged VHS tapes of Pakistani shows, only this time, it will be legal.

]]>http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/delhi-international-film-festival-to-honour-subhash-ghai-ghulam-ali/feed/0Shatrughan Sinha: After receiving IIFA award I will dedicate it to my fellow citizenshttp://www.bollywoodlife.com/news/shatrughan-sinha-after-receiving-iifa-award-i-will-dedicate-it-to-my-fellow-citizens/
http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news/shatrughan-sinha-after-receiving-iifa-award-i-will-dedicate-it-to-my-fellow-citizens/#respondSun, 13 Apr 2014 12:22:52 +0000http://www.bollywoodlife.com/?p=335288Read on to know what else Shotgun Sinha has to say

Indian actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who would be bestowed with a special award at the upcoming International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), said he was thrilled with the honour.

The 67-year-old veteran actor will be honoured for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema at the IIFA awards this year, which is set to take place in Tampa Bay, Florida in the US at the end of the month.

“I am thrilled to get this acclaimed award. Its reward for my hard works as an actor,” said a beaming Sinha.

Sinha, popularly known as Shotgun Sinha, is presently busy with campaigning in Patna Sahib seat that will go to poll on April 17. He said he would dedicate the honour to people of east Indian city Patna. His fate in general election from Patna Sahib seat will be known only on May 16.

Turning nostalgic, Sinha said, “I had never thought to go this much in life. Its by the grace of God and love and affection of my family and fellow citizens of Patna, in particular and Bihar in general, where lies my root.”

“After receiving IIFA award at the end of this month at Florida in the US I will come back to Patna to dedicate it to my fellow citizens”, he said.

The award which the actor will receive at IIFA is similar to a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sinha has acted in more than 200 Hindi films including Kalicharan, Vishwanath, Kaala Patthar, Shaan, Naseeb, Dostana and Kranti, which have made it big at the box office.

Well remembered for his powerful dialogue and the key word Khamosh, Sinha has rare distinction in Hindi film industry of successfully changing his image from a villain to a hero.

]]>http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news/shatrughan-sinha-after-receiving-iifa-award-i-will-dedicate-it-to-my-fellow-citizens/feed/0Shatrughan Sinha: The honour too late, too little for Pran!http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/shatrughan-sinha-the-honour-too-late-too-little-for-pran/
http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/shatrughan-sinha-the-honour-too-late-too-little-for-pran/#respondSun, 14 Apr 2013 10:53:50 +0000http://www.bollywoodlife.com/?p=209785Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha feels that the Dadasaheb Phalke award has come to Pran, an actor par excellence, too late, but adds that the 93-year-old deserves the honour and it is better late than never

“I’d say the honour is too late, too little, too delayed but thoroughly deserving for an incomparable actor who is also a kind and helpful human being. Der aaye par durust aaye. Better late than never and I’d like to add better never than late,” said Sinha.

The Kalicharan fame actor says that he rooted for Pran earlier, but that time it was given to other actors. The veteran actor was named for the honour last Friday. “What is the point of honouring the dead? We’re fortunate to have Pran saab with us and that he got the Dadasaheb Phalke award during his lifetime. He is an actor par excellence and a great human being,” he said.

“I recommended him very strongly for the Dadasaheb Phalke award on two different occasions. But the award was given to two other actors. Even Lata Mangeshkarji had tried to get Pran saab the Dadasaheb Phalke (award). But like I said, the whole industry is happy it has finally happened,” added Sinha, who has worked with Pran in films like Dostana and Vishwanath.

“I’ve worked with Pran saab in some really lovely films, including a film called Buniyaad and Subhash Ghai’s Vishwanath. Subhash always used to say Pran Saab was the epitome of punctuality, while I was just the opposite. If people adjusted their watches according to Pran saab’s schedules, they simply stopped consulting their watches because of me. Subhash would plead with me to be on time for the morning shift because the first shot was mine. Needless to say, I was never on time whereas Pran saab who was not needed for the first shot would be there. I’d say the Dadasaheb Phalke award has honoured Pran saab as much as he has honoured the award,” said Sinha.

In 1940, Pran started his career as a hero in Yamala Jat, but achieved fame by playing villain in films like Madhumati, Ziddi, Ram Aur Shyam and Kashmir Ki Kali. In his career spanning over six decades, Pran acted in over 400 movies and played a vast range of roles – from a hero to a villain to a character artist.

]]>http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/shatrughan-sinha-the-honour-too-late-too-little-for-pran/feed/0Shatrughan Sinha discharged from hospitalhttp://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip-buzz/shatrughan-sinha-discharged-from-hospital/
http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip-buzz/shatrughan-sinha-discharged-from-hospital/#respondMon, 13 Aug 2012 05:08:21 +0000http://www.bollywoodlife.com/?p=133656Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha, who was admitted at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital last month, was finally discharged Sunday evening and left for home with his wife Poonam Sinha. The 66-year-old was admitted to the hospital in suburban Andheri on July 2 after he complained of breathlessness following some paint work at his residence. During investigation, blockages were discovered in his coronary arteries and based on medical advice, he underwent surgery.

Fondly called Bihari Babu and Shotgun, Sinha is known for his distinctive voice that helped him carve a niche for himself in Bollywood after making his debut in 1969 with Saajan. Some of his popular Hindi films include Kalicharan, Vishwanath, Blackmail, Dostana, Shaan and Kala Patthar. In his over four-decade long career, he has acted in over 200 Hindi films, apart from some Bengali and Punjabi movies.

On July 2, Shatrughan Sinha complained of breathlessness due to some paint work at his Mumbai residence. Later, he was admitted to Kokilaben hospital in suburban Andheri where doctors diagnosed blockage in his coronary arteries. Further investigations demanded an immediate surgery. The 66-year-old actor-turned politician was operated upon by cardiac surgeon Dr Anvay Muley. “He (Sinha) is fine now and on the road to a speedy recovery. He has thanked all his well wishers for their unconditional love and support,” Dr Ram Narain, COO of Kokilaben Hospital said. Dr Narain has also said that following the surgery, Sinha will continue to stay there for a few days.

The Shotgun Sinha made his Bollywood debut in Sajan (1969) and went on to act in over 200 movies. He‘s also acted in Bengali and Punjabi films. Sinha rose to fame with his unforgettable roles in films like Kalicharan, Vishwanath, Blackmail, Dostana, Shaan and Kala Patthar.